DOUBLE trouble has arrived at the Australian Reptile Park in a first for the Central Coast zoo. While not biological twins, park general manager Tim Faulkner says mother Molly nursing two young ones after adopting a second joey was equally rare for the species. “Koalas don’t have twins or triplets,” said Tim Faulkner, General Manager. “If they did it would be very rare, but just as rare is a single koala caring for up to two babies at one time.” “Molly had one baby girl, while the other koala joey’s mothers milk had dried up. "With no other option, the other joey was left to find some. Thankfully Molly was welcoming and happy to take on a second child." The joeys have been weaned but remain close to Molly. The park is encouraging suggestions to name the young pair. Koala numbers have dropped substantially in recent decades. The World Wide Fund claimed last year that native vegetation laws would lead to the species' extinction by 2050, which NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton labelled "scare-mongering".

Australian Reptile Park twin koalas: rare adoption pairs up joeys

SEEING DOUBLE: One mother caring for two young koalas at once is exceedingly rare, Australian Reptile Park general manager Tim Faulker said.

DOUBLE trouble has arrived at the Australian Reptile Park in a first for the Central Coast zoo.

While not biological twins, park general manager Tim Faulkner says mother Molly nursing two young ones after adopting a second joey was equally rare for the species.

“Koalas don’t have twins or triplets,” said Tim Faulkner, General Manager. “If they did it would be very rare, but just as rare is a single koala caring for up to two babies at one time.”

“Molly had one baby girl, while the other koala joey’s mothers milk had dried up.

"With no other option, the other joey was left to find some. Thankfully Molly was welcoming and happy to take on a second child."

GRABBING HOLD: Mr Faulkner said the pair buddied up after one of their mothers was unable to produce milk to sustain it.

The joeys have been weaned but remain close to Molly. The park is encouraging suggestions to name the young pair.

Koala numbers have dropped substantially in recent decades. The World Wide Fund claimed last year that native vegetation laws would lead to the species' extinction by 2050, which NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton labelled "scare-mongering".